irHAinER 3: AI-lEKNAriVES 



Table 23. The spectrum of management activities to maintain viable populations of prey species. The 



adaptive management model calls for selection of different management strategies as the number 

 of breeding pairs (according to the federal recovery definition) changes from 10-15 to greater 

 than 15. The model also calls for different strategies, depending on landownership patterns 

 (Public Lands and Mixed Land Ownerships), social factors, land use patterns, biological 

 constraints, and the physical attributes of the environment. Some management strategies may 

 apply across all numbers of breeding pairs or management settings, as indicated by the arrows. 



10-15 Breeding Pairs* 



Greater than 15 Breeding Pairs* 



Public Lands 



(backcountry areas & 

 near National Parks) 



Mixed Land 

 Ownerships 



(interspersed public 



and private lands; 



interspersed 



agriculture) 



Public Lands 



(backcountry areas & 

 near National Parks) 



Mixed Land 

 Ownerships 



(interspersed public 



and private lands; 



interspersed 



agriculture) 



Montana 



Fish, 



Wildlife & 



Parks 



Management 



Strategies 



for 



Prey Species 



Adaptive 

 management 



Enhanced ungulate 

 monitoring where 

 wolves are present 



Research to improve 

 ecological 

 understanding of 

 wolf-ungulate 

 interactions 



Habitat enhancement 

 projects 



Adjust hunter 

 opportunity to 

 enhance prey 

 populations 



Integrate ungulate 

 and carnivore 

 management 



Public outreach to 

 inform and to 

 address specific 

 needs; Emphasize 

 landowner relations 



Habitat enhancement 

 projects with 

 cooperating 

 landowners 



Adjust hunter 

 opportunity to 

 enhance prey subject 

 to landowner 

 tolerance 



Enhanced monitoring 

 in selected areas 



Research to evaluate 

 specific management 

 actions 



Habitat enhancement 

 projects 



Adjust hunter 

 opportunity to meet 

 prey population 

 objectives 



Habitat enhancement 

 projects with 

 cooperating 

 landowners 



Adjust hunter 

 opportunity subject to 

 landowner tolerance 



* Montana shares a legal requirement with the states of Idaho and Wyoming to maintain a minimum total of .30 

 breeding pairs in the region. For the purpo.ses of adaptive management. Montana will apply the federal breeding 

 pair definition (a male and a female and at least two pups on December 31) since not all packs successfully breed 

 and have pups every year. Montana would need to maintain 14-18 social groups (defined as four or more wolves 

 traveling in winter) statewide to reliably maintain a minimum number of 10 breeding pairs with at least two pups on 

 December 3 1 . 



77 



